Organizer Information
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) is one of the world’s leading art museums, founded in 1870 to make art accessible to broad audiences. The Museum operates The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters in New York City and holds collections spanning more than 5,000 years of global art. Its American Wing, established in 1924, contains approximately 20,000 works by African American, Asian American, Euro-American, Latin American, and Native American makers, including paintings, sculpture, furniture, textiles, ceramics, basketry, glass, jewelry, and architectural elements.
Title & Description
Assistant Curator of American Textiles
Assistant Curator of American Textiles is a full-time professional curatorial position within The Met’s American Wing. The successful candidate will contribute specialized expertise in American textiles and material culture from the 18th through mid-20th centuries. The role centers on researching, cataloguing, interpreting, preserving, presenting, and expanding the Museum’s textile collection while developing inclusive narratives about American art and culture.
The Role Overview
- Position: Assistant Curator of American Textiles
- Organization: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Department: American Wing
- Contract Type: Full-time employment
- Salary: $87,000–$92,000 annually
- Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
- Work Arrangement: In-person/commutable
- Reporting to: Not specifically stated in the supplied posting
- Application Deadline: September 11, 2026
Position & Tasks
The Assistant Curator will conduct collection research and assessment, identify opportunities for new installations and gallery rotations, and write interpretive materials for galleries and Museum publications. Responsibilities include proposing and assisting with installations, recommending acquisitions in collaboration with conservators and other specialists, and cultivating donors and collectors for acquisition and fundraising support.
The position also involves public engagement, including leading exhibition tours, giving lectures and gallery talks, teaching classes, training volunteer guides, and mentoring interns and fellows. The curator will participate in departmental programs, build relationships with local and international audiences, respond to public inquiries, and maintain professional relationships with scholars, dealers, collectors, and Museum colleagues.
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- American Art
- Textile Art
- Art History
- Museum Studies
- Material Culture
- Research & Scholarship
Eligibility
Applicants should have a master’s degree specializing in American textiles; a PhD or ABD status is preferred. Candidates should have 3–5 years of museum experience directly relevant to curatorial responsibilities. Required expertise includes basic textile structures, materials, techniques, and textile handling.
Applicants should demonstrate scholarly research and publication experience, participation in lectures or symposia, current curatorial achievement, strong collection-record skills, and a commitment to diverse and inclusive approaches to American art and culture. Excellent communication, interpersonal, research, organizational, and collaborative skills are expected. Familiarity with TMS, Adobe Suite, and Microsoft Office Suite is also required.
The posting does not specify a nationality restriction or age limit. The position is therefore best understood as an employment opportunity rather than an international artist open call; eligibility for employment should be considered separately from the absence of an explicit nationality restriction.
Program Benefits
The position offers an annual salary of $87,000–$92,000 and eligible employees receive benefits that may include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; retirement plans with employer matching; paid leave and Museum holidays; disability coverage; flexible spending and health savings accounts; commuter benefits; financial-planning services; and assistance for relevant professional coursework and training.
Additional staff benefits include a Museum shop discount, subsidized cafeteria, and access to the Museums Council pass providing free admission to participating museums and cultural institutions.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 11 September 2026
- Employment: Full-time; specific start date is not stated in the supplied posting.
Location
The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, United States
Additional Details
The Met emphasizes respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence, and integrity. The Museum encourages candidates to apply even if they do not meet every preferred attribute. It is an equal-opportunity employer and states that reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities.
This opportunity is not a residency, grant, exhibition open call, or artist competition. It is a professional museum employment position specifically aimed at an experienced specialist in American textiles.